UNTIL THE END OF THE 18TH CENTURY, DISTINCTION WAS MADE BETWEEN TOWN SHERIFFS AND COUNTY BAILIFFS BUT A STATE POLICE FORCE WAS BEGUN BY 1811. AN 1851 DECREE LAID DOWN THAT AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONAL POLICE LIE WITH THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE, WHILE LOCAL MUNICIPAL POLICE CONTINUED TO BE RESPONSIBLE TO THE TOWN BURGOMASTERS. THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE CURRENT REGULAR POLICE ORGANIZATION DATES FROM 1958 AND CONSISTS OF MUNICIPAL AND NATIONAL POLICE. EVERY MUNICIPALITY WITH MORE THAN 25,000 INHABITANTS HAS ITS OWN POLICE FORCE; THE REMAINDER BEING SERVICED BY THE NATIONAL POLICE IN THEIR THREE BRANCHES: LAND; WATERWAYS; AND OTHER DIVISIONS. THE 140 MUNICIPAL POLICE FORCES UNDER THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS ARE LOCALLY ADMINISTERED BY TOWN BURGOMASTERS. POLICE TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT HAPPENS AT THE LOWER LEVEL THROUGH BASIC TRAINING COURSES AND AT THE HIGHER LEVEL THROUGH THE NETHERLANDS POLICE ACADEMY. POLICE DUTIES ARE MAINTAINING THE LEGAL ORDER AND PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO PERSONS IN NEED THEREOF. AUTHORITY FOR PREVENTIVE DUTIES RESTS WITH THE BURGOMASTER WHILE INVESTIGATION IS UNDER THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S AUTHORITY. DISCRETIONARY POWERS DERIVE FROM THE PROSECUTOR'S RIGHT TO FORGO PROSECUTION ON GROUNDS OF EXPEDIENCY. THIS FRAGMENTATION OF AUTHORITY IMPEDES THE POLICE EFFICIENCY AND DEMANDS REORGANIZATION. (MRK)